Slicing machine



Sept. 4, 1934.

T. ETTER El AL SLICING MACHINE Filed May 1 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Th mm a 5 ETT :2

John I D-unn WITNESS:

A TTORNEY Sept. 4, 1934. ETTER r AL 1,972,586

SLICING MACHINE Filed May 18. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W I TNEQS': INVENTORS ThumasETTer 11 L131: nn

Sept. 4, 1934. T. ETTE ET AL SLIGING MACHINE T. ETTE AL SLICING MACHINE Filed May 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WI TN E55 ,NVENTORS M maEE'TT p C nhn LBg/n A TTORNE i as to form perforations at the crossings of the ing at an angle to each other. 'It has also been Patented Sept. 4, 1934 V UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SLICING MACHINE Thoinas Etter and John Dunn,' Philadelphia;

Pa.; said Dunn, assignor to Margaretta H. Reinhart Merion, Pa. F 9

Application May 13,1929; Serial N6. 364,115

" 16 Claims. (01. 14e 114) The present invention relates to the process of Figure 9 shows the adjustment of the cutting cutting articles into slices, and a machine for members to the carrying disc for a cut of a depth carrying out the process. a varying from that for which it is adjusted in An object of the invention is to provide a proc- Figure 8.

-5 ess by which articles may be cut into slices and In experiments made in connection with the 69 j the slices perforated incident to the cutting. production of potato chips, we have discovered A further object is to provide a process by that a superior product may be produced by outwhich grooved cuts may be made at angles to ting the chips so as to provide alternate ridges each other on opposite faces of the slices and so and depressions onthe two sides thereof extendrooves. discovered that perforations may be formed in A still further object of the invention is to prothe slice by forming the depressions on each survide mechanism by which successive cuts may be face of suflicient depth to intersect those on the made in varying directions across the article. other surface. Therefore, by producing a rela- A fourth object of the invention is to provide tive movement between the potato and a cutting 70 mechanism by means of which articles may be member having a fluted cutting edge-successively cut into slices and perforations formed therein in varying directions across the potato in subincident to the cutting. stantially parallel planes spaced apart a distance The process consists briefly in cutting slices such that the paths of movement of the confrom an object alternately'in varying directions volutions of the cutting edge relative to the potato 75 in a manner so that grooves will be formed on on opposite sides of theslice will overlap and inone side intersecting with grooves formedon the tersect'so that slices will be produced having alother side made byapreceding cut. ternate ridges and depressions on the opposite The process may be carried out by providing faces with perforations through the potatoes at I a machine having cutting means formed with the crossings of said depressions, thereby not 80 fluted cutting edges and movable in a path of only producing a slice of attractive design of lacevarying directions relative to the article to be out, like effect, but also providing a slice which will fry together with means for feeding the article into to a more palatable crispness. the path of the cutting means successively at We have further devised a mechanism which points of varying directions. will automatically carry out the succession of "'85 A machine illustrative of the above principles steps of the above process. This mechanism comis shown in the accompanying drawings in prises one or more cutters mounted for move- 'which:-- ment in a path of varying directions. This may Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine be accomplished, as inthe present embodiment,

5 showing the slidable hopper in relation to an by mountingthe cutters, as at 10, on a rotatable so aperture through the casing of the machine and disc 11 secured to the shaft 12 extending transshowing the 0am for Operating S h pper; versely of a casing 13 in which it is journaled Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure as at 14 and 15.

3 of the drawings showingthe cutters mounted The bearing 14 is located in a removable wall 4.0 on a rotatable disc, 16 which is also provided with slideways 17 to '95 Figure 3 is a Section 011 t line Figaccommodate side flanges on a feeding hopper18 i 1 furt show th e a o t 191 1 slidable therein and operable in a vertical plane. to the cam and to the disc, The hopper is positioned relative to the disc 11 Figure 4 is} a diagrammatic Vi w S QW gthe ,so as to have a feed through the opening 19 in arrangement of ridges-on opposite sides of a cut thewall 16, toward the disc andacross the path 100 made by the machine, I i of travel ofthe cutters 10, said opening 19 be- Figure 5 is a cutter shown on an enlarged scal ing shown partly in dotted and partly in full and detached from the machine; 7 lines in Figure 1 p of the drawings. The slide- Figure 6 is a view, showing the cutting edge ways are provided'at their lower ends with suitof the cutters, g 'able buffers l'l 'shown dotted in Figure 1 against '105 Figure 7 is an end view of the cutter showing whichit impinges at the lower limit of its travel. the tapering nature of the corrugations of the The shaft 12 has mounted thereon for rotation fluted edge, V therewith a-cam 20 cooperating with a cam fol- Figure 8 shows the application of "the cutter lower 21 secured to the hopper for causing a reto the disc, and l ciprocation of the said hopper in timed relation to 116 I a disc,-as in the present embodiment in concentricityto the aXis of rotation which, in the present 4 in the casing.

the movement of the cutters so that the feed from the hopper to the cutters will be successively in positions relative to the path of the cutters to produce a cut across the potato alternately in varying directions.

In order to insure a more perfect feed of articles to be sliced iromthe hopper against the rotating disc, the hopper is given a construction peculiarly adapting it to this end. By reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the slope of the hopper toward the disc varies as between the upper portion A-B, portion BC,

portion C-D, and portion D-E so that; as the' potato is diminished in size by successive cuts it will be held firmly against the. disc and wfll. be, prevented by the increasing contact with the" feeding wall of the hopper from turning over and presenting a different side from. that on which the preceding cut was taken.

It will be seen by reference to the diagram shown in Figure l that whenthe hopper is in itsupper positionthe cut will be in the direction of thear-rows and will producealternate ridges and depressions, as indicated by the dotted lines and the space-therebetween. v

'Ihe;neXt cut: on the potato. will produce ridges and depressions onthe opposite side of the slice in a direction varying from those'shownat the upper part of the diagramand designatedby the numeral 22-, as; shown in full lines in the lower position-of the-potato, as designated by--the numeral 23. g a I The cutting; ofthe slices. in. this manner may be made toproduce perforations at the crossings oi the depressions by; so regulating the depth of the cut correspondingto the thicknessofthe cutting edge,. (that is, a distance between thepoints ace-y, asindicated in; Figure 7 of the drawings) that the depressions. on one side ofi a slicevwill intersect those'onzthe otherside. I

In orderthat a cut of this depth maybe effected,

ting edges-1a suitable distance. Inthe drawings, this distance is shown as-equal. tothethickness .of. the cutters so that-.when mountedon the disc 11 the cutting edgewillmextend laterally-there.- beyond. adistance equal tov its thickness, .assshown in Figure 8. The cutters. are; secured .to, thedisc 11 by means of screws 24- and the cutters-may be adjusted-to take a cutof varyingtdepths by eitherbendingthe effective cutting edgeszfithere- .of to. a greater-ordess degree or by placin -betweenthe cutters. and the-disc-shims or washers 26,.as shown in; Figure 9.

The fluting or corrugation of. the. cutting edge isshown at 27,- in various aspects in the several Figures. 2, 5, 6, '7. and -.8, thesame: being formed on the cutting member by ridges 2&1 and alternate depressions 29 formed on opposite' iaces of=the cutter and arranged to-lie, where mounted, on

instance; is the shaft l2.

In the operation ofithe mechanism, the 'p ota- I toes, vegetables, or other articles; tobe cut. are placed inthe hopper l8 wh i1ch opens'toward the disc 11 and discharges through the opening 19 Asstated above, thecamfZO is so placed on the shaft-12 and ,so, related to the follower 21 that the hopper will beraisedwhen one of the cutters; is passingrthe'upperlimit of travel of thesaid. hopper ina direction from right to leftand will travel to its lower. 1mm; under the force of gravity before the other of; the cutcient depthto permit the free passing of the slices orchips 'therethrough, the chips falling down;,the.;-casing.,-into a receptacle, not shown,

placed the rebeneath and the casing being open at-hits. lowcr -end, '-as shown in Figure 3.

Itflwill be understood that the relation of the cutting edges to the disc may be varied so as to provide no aperturesatall or; to provide aperturescof; varying extent either bya, proper selection of washers or shims or by the degree of bend-.-

in ofv the cutting edge laterallyofv the disc.

It will; be understoodthatthe cutting edge may vary from the configuration as shown andwa greater. or less:number. oi cutters may be provided on the disc than shown in. the present em-- bodiment, a

, Asa variation. from cutsflmade by cutters mounted' on a rotating disc, cuts may also be alternately madev by cutting edges moving in the same-plane and inrcrossing pathsof operation or that-the potato or other obj ects-to be .cut, may be the moving-member with the cutteror cutters stationary. a I

As, intimated above, the principles herein laid down may be applied to the-cutting of any veg table (if-the tuber or -rootlike,'type and to other objects as meats, where theabove effects are desired.. I thecutters 10 are bent upwardly toward the cut- 1 It. will be also, understood that, othermeans may be provided,than, a disc for moving the cutt6lS1WithiLlthe-purview of the inventionand that various, changes, in details may be resorted to within the scopeof the invention asherein out,- linedand hereinafter claimed. I

1. .Aslicing; machine including a rotatable disc, 2. cuttinglelement thereon, andmeans for, feeding an object into therpath-of' the: cutter successively at different points. therealong.

2, Aslicing machineincludi-ng a rotary cutter, having a corrugated cutting edge, and means for feeding; anobject-intov the: path of the cutter alternately: at. different points. along said path.

.3. :A. slicing machine including a cutter having a corrugated cutting-edge, means for moving said element. in... -a. path.,of--. varying directions, and means for; feeding anarticle toebe' sliced into said path successively at different positions relative to the saidvarying directions and-in timed relation; to i the. movement;of said cutter: across said positions. j

- te-A l slicing .machinee-including a plurality of cutters, haying corrugated cutting. edges. moving in the same path, said path; having; a variance of directions, means for-feeding an article to be sliced into said patlr-successivelyat different positions relative to thesaid varying directions and alternately in opposition to different cutters attheyarious, positions. L a -5.:flA; slici-ng machine including: acutter having a corrugated cutting edge moving in a path of-i varying v directions a hppper feeding, into the path of said cutter and movable to positions,op-

posite points of the path of varying directions.

6. A slicing machine including a cutter having a corrugated cutting edge moving in a path of varying directions, a hopper feeding into the path of said cutter, and movable to positions opposite points of the path of varying directions, and means for moving said hopper in timed relation to the passing of the cutter through the said points.

7. A slicing machine including a cutter having a corrugated cutting edge moving in a path of varying direction, a hopper feeding into the path of said cutter, and movable to positions opposite points of the path of varying directions, means for moving the cutter in said path, and means associated with the moving means and automatically operable thereby for positioning the hopper opposite various positions relative to the said varying directions in the path.

8. A slicing machine including corrugated cutting means movable in a circular path, a hopper feeding to said cutting means and movable on a chord of said circular path.

9. A slicing machine including a rotatable disc having corrugated cutter means radially placed thereon, a hopper feeding against said disc and movable across the path of the cutter means at positions of varying directions thereof.

10. A slicing machine including a casing, a disc rotatable adjacent and parallel to one wall thereof and having cutting means thereon, said wall having an opening on one side of the axis of rotation extending across the path of movement of the cutting means at two positions of opposite directions thereof, a hopper feeding through said opening and movable to positions at the extreme limits thereof.

11. A slicing machine including a rotatable shaft, corrugatedv cutting means secured to the shaft for rotation therewith, a hopper feeding to the path of said cutting means, a cam on. said shaft, a cam follower on the hopper, said cam being of such shape as to position the hopper successively at varying points of the path of travel of said cutting means.

12. The method of producing a perforated slice consisting in moving a fluted knife about a point as a center with the edge of the knife as a radius, presenting an article to the action of the knife to produce 'arcuate hills and dales, and moving the article to a different position in the arc of movement and removing a slice with the arcuate dales crossing and communicating with the dales of the first cut.

13. The method of producing a perforated slice consisting in moving a fluted knife about a point as a center with the edge of the knife as a radius,

presenting an article to the action of the knife to produce arcuate hills and dales, and moving the article to a difierent position in the arc of movement and removing a slice'with the arcuate dales crossing and communicating at the several points of crossing with the dales of the first cut.

14. A slicing machine comprising a plurality of cutters traveling in the same curvilinear orbit, and means presenting the same article to the action of the cutters successively at alternate points in the orbit.

15. A slicing machine comprising a plurality of A cutters traveling in the same curvilinear orbit, and means reciprocating in a straight line presenting the same article to the action of the cutters successively at different arcs of the orbit. 16. A slicing machine comprising a plurality of cutters traveling in the same orbit, and means reciprocating in a straight line on a cord of the orbit to present the same article to the action of the cutters successively at alternate points in the orbit.

THOMAS ETTER.

JOHN L. DUNN. 

